The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-09-21
Conference Of Yearly Meetings. 0
Friends.

I am much rejoiced to know that
there is to be, in the Ninth month of
this year, general meeting at Rich
mond, Indiana, of the Yearly Meet
ings of Friends.
No one. not in membership with
Friends, I think, call have more ten
der regard for the principles and a
stronger desire for the prosperity of
the Society of Friends than the writer
of this article, and I am very happy to
learn that the great subject of Peace,
and the duty of Friends concerning
it, will he brought very prominently
before the meeting.
After having long and candidly con-
sidered the duty of Friends in regard
to Peace, I am fully convinced that
they should now and hereafter for
years to come labor more earnestly,
and extensively, for the cause of Peace
than for Temperance or Foreign Mis-
sions, or in fact than for all other good
causes combined. The one great work
which God in His providence now
plainly points out to Friends is to la
Dor for peace for the nations Of the
earth. This work far exceeds all 9TH
er works, at the present time, in grand
philanthropic glory.
All the leading Christian sects are
laboring for temperance, foreign mis-
sions, and all other good causes, ex-
cept the holy cause of Peace, cause
dear to "the God of Peace who de
lighted in mercy" and who is "the
God of love-" But alas deep sadness
rests upon my mind daily because all
the great bodies Of Christians through
out the world are profoundedly indif-
ferent and even deaf to the gentle and
blessed voice of peace, which has been
speaking for nearly two thousand
years from Bethlehem, Gethsemane,
and from Calvary, to the nations OF
the earth. Indifferent and deaf did /
say? That does not properly express
it. Professed Christians by millions
are now cultivating war spirit and
an admiration of military glory by
reading with delight the histories of
battles and warriors, and by the erec-
ton of military statues and monu-
ments, which are increasing from
year to year. And in our country on
the Sabbath day before Decoration
Day" thousands of ministers preach
sermons that tend to increase the spir-
it of war more than the spirit of peace.
And Decoration Days" excite in our
countrymen, especially among boys
and young men, war rather than a
peaceable and truly patriotic spirit.
A vain admiration Of military glory
and pompis spreading. Many of our
people are much desirous to add great
ly from year to year to our weapons OF
slaughter, and iron-clad ships, and Of
fortifications without end. The state
of our country and Europe in regard
to preparations for war, and the senti-
ments and feelings that prevail on
war, are lamentable indeed. And
very sad to say, the church is respon-
sible for this dreadful condition in
Christendom. An eminent and be-
loved Friend, Thomas Chase, in these
thrilingly, eloquent words, that
should electrify the Society of Friends
and all other Christian sects with holy
zeal against war, truly says: "This
evil WAR would not continue in
Christian communities q day longer,
if the good Christian men of every
country were once to recognize and ac-
knowledge its monstrous criminality.
I therefore do solemnly arraign the
professcd church Of Christ, in all its
divisions, save few small bodies who
have borne u faithful testimony in this
regard. T arraign the churches of
Christendom as guilty of all the crime
and woe which the continuance Of
this barbarous institution entails upon
the world. The white robes of the
bride of Christ should he pure and
spotless; but they have been draggled
in blood. War seems to aim in set
ting up the kingdom of Satan on
earth and yet the church is its very
bulwark. 1t says, God speed to the
warrior, as he sets out on his mission
of death. On this subject it is not
Christian, but Pagan. [ charge upon
the protesting Church, the RESPONSE
bility for all the evils which war in
iicts upon society; for one aUord from
her would stop them all. 1 make this
charge with no bitterness, and in per-
feet charity. But make 1t in all seri-
business and solemnity."
An intelligent and benevolent man,
a native of Hindostan, visited Eng
land a few years ago, and in his great
astonishment at what he saw, wrote
thus: GAS Hindoo, I cannot under
stand how Christians, as Christians,
can fight so brutally as they often do.
cannot understi nd how, year after
year, the most deadly weapons and en-
gines of torture and war are being in
vented, in order to carry the act OF
slaughtering our brother man to per-
fection. ! really cannot tell how the
followers of the Prince OF Peace can
ever go to war. cannot for one mo-
ment believe that men can be true
Christians, without doing all in their
power to prevent the growth and splr-
it of war;"
Mistakes of Life.